What is RSL Life Care? Find out
Elder-Clown-image2 | RSL LifeCare - provide care and service to war veterans, retirement villages and accommodation, aged care services and assisted living
October 08, 2019

Revisiting value

Doing the cancan, singing folk songs, dancing to Elvis, and performing theatrical scenes … all in a morning’s work for Elder Clown Bonnie.

When 90-year-old Maggie finished the cancan with Bonnie they were given great applause from the other members of the group.

She was one of 12-older people from RSL LifeCare Narrabeen taking part in an Elder Clown trial, measuring the benefits of play and music and dance presented to dementia residents by a professional clown.

Following her cancan, the smile on Maggie’s face spoke volumes.

It was held at the War Vets’ Therapy Lifestyle Centre, in the room adjacent to where the television documentary Old People’s Home for 4-Year-Olds was filmed.

I remember once hugging a gentleman who broke down in tears, he told me that it had been ‘so long’ since anyone had hugged him. Some of these older people might go for days without anyone even touching them.

– Elder Clown Bonnie

Bonnie has been an Elder Clown for nearly three years and said the organisation was all about building rapport, making connections and having fun.

“So that people feel valued, heard and respected,” she said. “It’s about seeing them see their value again, recognising they are important.”

On another occasion during this variety show, the oldies became a veritable seated flash mob, singing an old Irish folk song, a cappella.

Bonnie, a former Clown Doctor, believed that music could produce some of the same outcomes as touch.

“I remember once hugging a gentleman who broke down in tears,” she said. “He told me that it had been ‘so long’ since anyone had hugged him. Some of these older people might go for days without anyone even touching them.”

Also during the War Vets session, Bonnie reached into her trolley and produced a hand-held pump to which she attached an empty balloon. She then pumped air inside and made a balloon koala which hugged a balloon tree.

Later on however, she politely declined an invitation to produce a balloon octopus!

She said she wore the clown nose and the same dress to every session. “The connections made are remarkable,” she said. “The red nose is a licence to play.

“Elder Clowns provide empowerment, value and reminiscence.  Just because you’re at the end of your life doesn’t mean these things aren’t important anymore.”

She believed Western society no longer attributed value in the lives of its eldest citizens. “At best we refer to a ‘cute granny’ as opposed to ‘a greatly respected grandmother’,” she said.

Therapy Lifestyle Centre manager Heidi Roland Kenn said the sessions were also very important respite for carers. “The program allows for the partner or relatives to know their loved one is in a stimulating environment,” she said.

“They are not just being parked in a room in front of a TV.”

Mrs Roland Kenn said the program was being overviewed by an occupational therapist.

“There is an assessment scale for alertness and engagement,” she said. “It was measured the week before Bonnie started, and will be repeated when the trial has finished.”

 

Story By Rod Bennett

Blog Posts

Help for Vets in Need

Veterans’ Services

Find out more

Latest News

array(2) { [0]=> int(175) [1]=> int(41) }
Joan Herringe

Joan’s Creative Pursuits: Knitting, Puzzles, and Cherished Moments at RSL LifeCare​

Many residents at RSL LifeCare love to participate in a variety of hobbies that keep their minds and hearts engaged. One such resident is Joan Herringe from RSL LifeCare Connie Fall. One...

Read more

Positive impact of Intergenerational Relationships

The power of intergenerational relationships has been demonstrated on ABC's Old People's Home for Teenagers, featuring residents from RSL LifeCare's Le Hamel Retirement Village and students...

Read more
Veteran Wellbeing Centre community event

RSL LifeCare secures $1.7 million funding to establish Central Coast Veteran and Family Hub and $243,000 for a centre at Bardia Barracks

RSL LifeCare has received $1.7 million in funding from the Albanese Government’s Veteran Wellbeing Grants One-Off Program to establish a veteran and family hub-like experience...

Read more

RSL LifeCare awarded $520,341 in government funding to enhance Veteran wellbeing services in Riverina

RSL LifeCare has secured $520,341 in funding from the Albanese Government’s Veterans Wellbeing Grants One-Off program that will be used to expand its services and...

Read more

George Carpenter’s Inspiring Dedication to Preserving Military History

George Carpenter, an 87 year old resident of RSL ANZAC Village in Narrabeen, has been volunteering at the RSL LifeCare War Museum for three years...

Read more

RSL LifeCare Nowra Community Unveils Visionary Expansion, Elevating Retirement Living to New Heights

RSL LifeCare has today announced Stage 2 release of its Dumaresq Retirement Village at RSL LifeCare Nowra Community. The expansion brings an array of new...

Read more

From Stables to Retirement Living: Tim Cooke’s Life Journey

"My journey kicked off when I was just 14 years old. The year was 1963. I waved goodbye to school and hello to an apprenticeship...

Read more

Journey Through 102 Years: The Life of Helen Lea

"My name is Helen Lea, and I've been lucky enough to reach the grand age of 102. I've always felt pretty good for my age....

Read more

Honouring Malaya & Borneo Veterans: A Story of Sidney Peter Bryant

Today, on August 31, we commemorate Malaya & Borneo Veterans Day and take a moment to pay tribute to those who served in the Malayan...

Read more

Federal Government grant awarded to RSL LifeCare

RSL LifeCare has been awarded a $50,000 grant by the Australian Government to support the development of a business case to establish a Veterans’ and...

Read more

RSL LifeCare a finalist in Best Graduate Development Program – Australian HR Awards 2023

August 2023 – RSL LifeCare’s Graduate Registered Nurse Program has been announced as a finalist in the Australian HR Awards 2023, Best Graduate Development Program...

Read more

RSL LifeCare successfully moves to the second stage in becoming the provider for a Veterans’ and Families’ Hub in both the Tweed-North Coast region and Queanbeyan.

RSL LifeCare has welcomed the opportunity by the Federal Government to submit a business case to deliver a Veterans’ and Families’ Hub in these critical...

Read more

Download a brochure

We'll never share your email address and you can opt out at any time, we promise

Career Application Single

  • Accepted file types: docx, doc, pdf, Max. file size: 50 MB.
  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Contact Veteran Services

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Are you ready to explore a new operations role with extra benefits?

Take your career in a new direction RSL LifeCare.

Search for an operations role at an RSL LifeCare Residential Aged Care facility in the Southern NSW region. Take a look at all our current positions here.

1. 100% funding on participating certifications

Undertake a participating certification through the RSL LifeCare Earn and Learn Incentive Program1 and you could be eligible to have your learning fully funded.

2. Cash bonus of up to $1000 (less income tax).

Through the RSL LifeCare Sign-on Bonus, you could be eligible for two split payments of $500 (less income tax), when you start a new role with us.

Contact Homes for Heroes today